For Hunter 18 & 170 owners needing to replace those red center board bail retaining nuts you've probably checked out replacements at the Hunter parts store and found $24.90 (plus shipping) for a pair a bit much. I have 2015 H18 and as you can see below the rubber coating had all but disintegrated mostly due to the corroding carbon steel nut used in their manufacture. After an extensive internet search, I came up with a $3.50 fix that should hold up better the originals and thought I'd share.
Not being able to find a similar 1/4-20 rubber coated cap nut, I ended up using a 5/8 X 1/4-20 rubber insulated expansion or well nut. They were $1.49 each at Ace Hardware and come with a brass nut, much friendlier with SS instead of carbon steel. Due to longer nut lengths I had to use a longer piece of threaded rod (a 1/4-20 full thread SS bolt minus the head and cut to 2-3/4 works"). Hand snug with brass nut outboard and the compressed rubber head flange against the bail prevents the nuts from backing off.
prevents nuts from backing of
Not being able to find a similar 1/4-20 rubber coated cap nut, I ended up using a 5/8 X 1/4-20 rubber insulated expansion or well nut. They were $1.49 each at Ace Hardware and come with a brass nut, much friendlier with SS instead of carbon steel. Due to longer nut lengths I had to use a longer piece of threaded rod (a 1/4-20 full thread SS bolt minus the head and cut to 2-3/4 works"). Hand snug with brass nut outboard and the compressed rubber head flange against the bail prevents the nuts from backing off.